Monday, October 24, 2011

FOX VS. DIRECTV

I just did a promo that will air before Tuesday night's episode. It's aim is to mobilize fans against DirecTV. But they refused to let me speak honestly, I had to follow an FX legal script that felt like complete bullshit. I'm sure it will serve it's purpose, but I feel compelled to let SOA fans know what I WANTED to say.

First off, I am well aware that I am working for the right-handed smoking man. Truth is, every large entertainment company is an extension of some corporate behemoth. FX is no exception. The thing that keeps me there is that they care as much about the creative process as they do their bottom line. That's not only rare, it's pretty much nonexistent everywhere else in Hollywood. That bubble is floated by John Landgraf. If it weren't for that guy, I'd be selling star maps and handjobs in front of the Motherlode. I also have no delusions that Fox has a big horse in this DTV race. Like all big corporate deals, the Goliaths are fighting for bigger chunks of the pie and in the process, the Davids who feed off of the crumbs, are getting screwed. But if you look at the facts, you'll see that DirecTV is applying orange rules to an ever apple-ing world and using their large customer base as leverage. Basically, fucking over the customers that already pay a lot of money for their service.

Here is the script they wouldn't let me use --

SOA (:45)

HEY, I’M KURT SUTTER, CREATOR OF SONS OF ANARCHY.

STARTING NOVEMBER 1ST, DIRECTV IS PULLING FX FROM YOUR BOX.

THAT MEANS YOU'LL MISS THE LAST FIVE EPISODES OF SONS THIS SEASON. PERHAPS FIVE OF THE MOST CRITICAL EPISODES OF THE SERIES.

I KNOW FOX HAS A HORSE IN THIS RACE, BUT THEY'RE TRYING TO NEGOTIATE IN GOOD FAITH. DIRECTV IS SHUTTING DOWN ALL CONVERSATION AND USING THEIR CUSTOMERS AS LEVERAGE. IN THE PROCESS, YOU'RE GETTING FUCKED OVER. THEY'RE RUNNING ADS WITH THEIR CORPORATE SHILL TELLING YOU HOW MUCH "THEY CARE ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS"; THAT DUDE'S GOT ONE SINCERE HAND ON HIS HEART WHILE THE OTHER GREASES YOUR UNSUSPECTING BACKSIDE. BECAUSE THEY'RE ABOUT TO FLIP YOU OVER AND FUCK YOU UP THE ASS TILL YOU BLEED.

Same thing happened last year with Dish Network, and we missed 3-4 episodes. Glad i didn't switch to DTV at then cause it'd be shit out of luck time again for me. I just wish there was this much grass roots efforts then with Dish as there is with DTV. All in all the fans get screwed out of episodes, then pay more later.

Unfortunately a lot of DirecTV subscribers are people who cannot cancel their service (ex: we cannot because our building only gives us this one option included in the rent and we pay for any extras like HD or DVR). So all we are left to do is sign petitions and hope that rich people fighting each other can figure out how to stay rich in the next 6 days.

That being said, Fox fought with Dish last year (my parents cancelled their Dish as a result) and others in the past so this is nothing new. It's impossible for regular people to know who is really right in this case - and most likely it's noone.

But the one thing we can count on is that somehow we'll get screwed: either with no F/X (and other stations) or with a higher bill (I have no doubt DirecTV will pass on any perceived cost to customers).

I really don't care how it gets resolved or who gets richer (whether it's DirecTV or Murdoch and Fox), I just care that someone gets this figured out by Nov. 1st.

Damn kurt. You never cease to amaze me with your blogs :DAnd I am doing my part to let others know that DTV is complete shit and that they need to switch. Hell, ive been on twitter, facebook, wherever just telling people about the shit that is going down with the whole DTV and FX thing. And youre right about the channel, the production company etc. FX cares about shit included in the creative process and really without watching FX, there is no point of even watching tv at all. SOA is the main reason why I got into script writing: because of how damn good the show is and how it sets up a lot of shit for our boys of SAMCRO. But anyway, I love reading your blogs and hopefully people will realize that DTV is nothing but bullshit. Adam

The biggest problem with this is, all of the carriers can and at some point probably will do this. Dish last year, DirecTV this year, probably Comcast next year (or some other carrier). It never ends. They're all fucking cunts using the shows and customers as betting chips.

Thanks for posting this. I've been looking for some kind of comment or something about what's happening to share on my site. A lot of SoA fans still don't know what's going on.

For those of us north of the border we're even more ostracised as we don't get FX legally. Hopefully the other Canadian fans will realise that even though this isn't happening in our backyard, it still effects the show, and therefor it definitely effects us. I hope SoA keeps on rocking. Stay strong, be weary, and win.